Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo, has downplayed the significance of past statistics as Ghana prepares for their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
Ghana endured a challenging 2024, securing only two victories in ten matches. Their struggles were compounded by a disappointing AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign, where they failed to secure a spot in the tournament for the first time in 20 years. The Black Stars finished at the bottom of their group with just three points after recording three losses and three draws.
Despite this difficult period, Addo remains focused on the task ahead rather than dwelling on past performances. Speaking to 3Sports, he emphasized the importance of each game rather than the statistics.
“For me, it’s not about qualifiers, World Cup, or AFCON qualifiers. Each and every game is important. Surely, I think it’s difficult sometimes to compare circumstances, especially if you have friendly matches or matches where you have a lot of injuries,” he stated.
“I know the statistics count, but for me, it doesn’t count too much. Each and every game is important. We always try to do our best. I’m looking forward to this match. I’m really, really looking forward to this match to also bring back a little bit of positivity and also confidence to the players. I hope Chad is coming in at the right time and prepare the boys,” he added.
Reflecting on Ghana’s inconsistent form, Addo acknowledged the ups and downs of football but stressed the importance of learning from setbacks.
“This is football. Sometimes you have ups, and sometimes you have downs but the most important thing is to learn out of the downs. And even if you have ups, to be critical enough to look at the improving points,” he said.
Currently, Ghana sits second in Group I, level on nine points with leaders Comoros, positioning them well for a potential World Cup qualification.
